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The Dual Nature of Ambition

The document discusses the concept of ambition from several perspectives: 1) Ambition involves a desire for achievement or distinction and a willingness to work towards goals despite adversity or failure. 2) Unlike mere aspirations, ambition is a persistent character trait that motivates a person to continually set new goals after achieving old ones. 3) There are differing views on whether ambition is good or bad - some Eastern traditions see it as an evil that distracts from spiritual pursuits, while Western thought often lauds it as a precursor to success.

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60 views3 pages

The Dual Nature of Ambition

The document discusses the concept of ambition from several perspectives: 1) Ambition involves a desire for achievement or distinction and a willingness to work towards goals despite adversity or failure. 2) Unlike mere aspirations, ambition is a persistent character trait that motivates a person to continually set new goals after achieving old ones. 3) There are differing views on whether ambition is good or bad - some Eastern traditions see it as an evil that distracts from spiritual pursuits, while Western thought often lauds it as a precursor to success.

Uploaded by

cristina valcea
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Speaking topics - Ambition

AMBITION

Is Ambition Good or Bad?


Ambition can be defined as a striving for some kind of achievement or distinction, and
involves, first, the desire for achievement, and, second, the willingness to work towards
it even in the face of adversity or failure.

To be ambitious is to achieve first and foremost not for the sake of achievement itself
(which is to be high-reaching) but for the sake of distinguishing oneself from others.
Were we the last person on earth, it would make little or no sense to be ambitious.

Ambition is often confused with aspiration. Unlike mere aspiration, which has a
particular goal for object, ambition is a trait or disposition, and, as such, is persistent
and pervasive. A person cannot alter her ambition any more than she can alter any
other character trait: having achieved one goal, the truly ambitious person soon
formulates another at which to keep on striving.

Ambition is often spoken of in the same breath as hope, as in "hopes and ambitions".
Hope is the desire for something to happen combined with an anticipation of it
happening. In contrast, ambition is the desire for achievement or distinction combined
with the willingness to work towards
it. The opposite of hope is fear, hopeless, or despair; the opposite of ambition is simply
"lack of ambition", which is not a negative state.

Perhaps it is even the preferable state. In many Eastern traditions, ambition is seen as
an evil that, by tying us down to worldly pursuits, keeps us away from the spiritual life
and its fruits of virtue, wisdom, and tranquillity. In contrast, in the West, ambition is
lauded as a precondition or precursor of success, even though the Western canon itself
tends to fall against it.

For instance, in the Republic, Plato says that, being devoid of ambition, good men
shun politics, leaving us to be ruled by bad men and their ambitions. Even if asked or
invited, a good man would refuse to rule. To force good men into positions of power,
Plato goes so far as to propose the introduction of a penalty for refusing to rule.

Aristotle had a more nuanced take on ambition. In the Nicomachean Ethics, he defines


virtue as a disposition to aim at the intermediate between excess and deficiency, which,
unlike the excess or the deficiency, is a form of success and therefore worthy of praise.
For example, those who run headlong into every danger are rash, while those who flee
from every danger are cowards, but courage is indicated by the mean or intermediate.
Speaking topics - Ambition

For Aristotle, to be virtuous within a sphere, one has to be close to the mean between
the excess and the deficiency in that sphere. And so, while it is possible to fail in many
ways, it is possible to succeed in one way only—which is why failure is easy and
success difficult. By the same token, people may be bad in many ways, but good in one
way only.

Aristotle goes on to discuss the principal virtues and their associated vices. In the
sphere of "minor honor and dishonor", he names "ambition" as the vicious excess, "lack
of ambition" as the vicious deficiency, and "proper ambition" as the virtuous mean.

To this day, people still speak of ambition after Aristotle, as"‘healthy ambition",
"unhealthy ambition", and "lack of ambition". Healthy ambition can be understood as the
measured striving for achievement or distinction, and unhealthy ambition as the
immoderate or disordered striving for such. Healthy ambition is individually enabling and
socially constructive, while unhealthy ambition is inhibiting and destructive, and more
akin to greed.

Discuss or debate the questions below. Remember to support your answers!

 Do you consider yourself to be an ambitious person? Why/not?


 Do you think that ambition can be taught in school, much like a course in Math or
English? Would you want to take such a course? Why/not?
 Does ambition always bring success? Why do you think so?
 If you could take a pill which would result in increased motivation to achieve your
goals, would you want to take the pill? Why/not?

 How would you define ambition? How does your definition compare or contrast
with the definitions of your classmates?
 What are the positive results, if any, of being an overachiever? Please explain.
 What are the negative results, if any, of being an overachiever? Please explain.
 Who is the most ambitious person you personally know? What is the source of
his/her ambition? Please explain.
 Who are three well-known overachievers whom you admire? What reasons make
them especially admirable? What makes them ambitious?
 Why are some people determined to succeed at any cost, yet others just about
lack any drive whatsoever? Please explain.
 What has a greater influence on a person's ambitiousness, family, genes, or the
culture in which he/she is raised? Why do you think so?
 Where do you see yourself in ten years?

 Can ambition be turned off and on like a light switch? Why/not?


 Do you think younger people are inherently more ambitious than older people?
Why/not?
Speaking topics - Ambition

 Do you think one's social status as a child, whether rich, poor, or somewhere in
the middle, affects his/her ability to succeed later in life? Why/not?

 Who possesses a greater amount of ambition, men or women? Why do you think
so?
 Which nations have the greatest number of ambitious people? Why do you think
so? Are there any countries which lack overachievers?
 Which races are the most ambitious? Why do you think so?
 Imagine that you're a parent. How could you instill a healthy sense of drive  in
your child?
 Niccolo Machiavelli said: Ambition is so powerful a passion in the human breast
that however high we reach, we are never satisfied. What does this mean?

Common questions

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Cultural background significantly influences perceptions of ambition, as seen in the contrasting views of Eastern and Western philosophies. Western cultures generally view ambition positively, seeing it as essential for achieving success, rooted in the ideals of individualism and liberty. In contrast, Eastern cultures often perceive ambition as negative, suggesting it ties individuals to material pursuits instead of spiritual growth. Such cultural contexts shape individuals’ value systems and approaches to ambition, impacting their life goals and social behaviors .

Machiavelli argues that ambition is a powerful and insatiable human drive; no matter how high one reaches, satisfaction is never fully attained. This perspective highlights human desires as endlessly expansive and potentially disruptive. In contrast, Aristotle’s ethical framework suggests that ambition, in its 'proper' form, can be curtailed to balance with virtue by aiming for moderation. While Machiavelli emphasizes ambition's unyielding nature, Aristotle advocates for its deliberate moderation to align with virtue .

According to Aristotle, 'proper ambition' is viewed as the virtuous mean between the extremes of ambition and lack of ambition. 'Proper ambition' implies a measured and balanced striving for achievement or distinction, aligning with Aristotle's idea of virtue as a mean between excess and deficiency. Ambition, as a vice of excess, reflects an immoderate or disordered pursuit of success, while lack of ambition signifies a deficiency, or a complete absence of the drive to achieve. Proper ambition, therefore, supports personal and social benefits, unlike the other extremes .

In 'The Republic,' Plato discusses ambition in the context of politics, suggesting that without ambition, good individuals avoid ruling. This avoidance risks leaving political power to those with selfish ambitions. The implication is that ambition needs to be checked by compelling virtuous individuals to take office, thus ensuring governance by those who are good and wise, rather than merely ambitious. This idea highlights the need for systems to promote responsible leadership and governance .

Ambition is a persistent, character-related disposition aiming for achievement or distinction, persisting even after achieving initial goals. In contrast, aspiration involves a specific goal, lacking the pervasiveness of ambition. Ambition reflects a deeper, ongoing drive that revises and renews targets continually, while aspiration tends to cease once a goal is attained. This distinction highlights ambition's role in long-term personal development as opposed to the goal-specific focus of aspiration .

Unhealthy ambition, being immoderate or disordered striving for achievement, can lead to socially and individually destructive outcomes akin to greed. Socially, it may foster environments of competition over cooperation, where personal gain is prioritized over communal well-being. Individually, unhealthy ambition can result in burnout, a constant sense of dissatisfaction, and ethical compromise for personal advancement. Such outcomes contrast with 'healthy ambition', which is enabling and constructive .

Western traditions, often influenced by classical philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, generally view ambition as a precursor to success, albeit with caution against its excesses. Aristotle, for instance, views proper ambition as virtuous. In contrast, many Eastern philosophies perceive ambition negatively, as it ties individuals to worldly pursuits and diverts them from spiritual growth and enlightenment. This difference may stem from Western philosophies' emphasis on individual achievement and societal success, while Eastern philosophies traditionally prioritize inner peace and spiritual understanding .

Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean, which argues that virtue lies between the extremes of excess and deficiency, applies to modern interpretations of ambition through the concept of 'healthy ambition'. This form of ambition is considered virtuous, embodying the balance between driven achievement (excess) and lack of purpose (deficiency). It advocates for a measured and constructive striving for success that is individually and socially beneficial, neither pursuing success at all costs nor being devoid of motivation .

Hope and ambition are distinct yet related concepts. Hope involves a desire for something to happen coupled with an expectation of its occurrence, whereas ambition entails a desire for achievement or distinction, requiring persistent effort despite challenges. While hope is more passive and relies on the anticipation of positive outcomes, ambition entails active striving and resilience. These differences influence goals by framing hope as an emotional state that supports towards positive thinking and optimism, whereas ambition drives the continuous pursuit and reassessment of goals .

Plato’s suggestion to compel 'good men' to take on roles of leadership stems from his critical assessment of ambition as it relates to political power. He argues that without the ambition to wield power, good men may shun political office, leaving governance to those driven by selfish ambition. Consequently, Plato proposes methods to ensure capable individuals lead, even if they personally lack the ambition to do so, thereby safeguarding society from the potential harms caused by unchecked political ambition .

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